Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 30, 2026

Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMCARI), established in 1924, is one of Karnataka's oldest and most prestigious government medical institutions, affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) and approved by the National Medical Commission (NMC). The MS (Ophthalmology) is a 3-year postgraduate surgical programme with a seat intake of 9, offered in full-time on-campus mode. The annual tuition fee for the clinical category is Rs. 1,00,000 per year, making the total tuition fee Rs. 3,00,000 for the entire course. Admission is based on NEET PG scores. MMCARI's ophthalmology department, supported by K.R. Hospital and Cheluvamba Hospital with 1,800+ beds, provides comprehensive surgical and clinical training in eye care, including cataract surgeries, glaucoma management, retinal procedures, and corneal transplants.

Admission for the 2026 batch (NEET PG 2026 cycle) is upcoming. NEET PG 2026 registration is tentatively scheduled to begin in April 2026, with the exam expected in June 2026. Karnataka KEA state counselling for NEET PG 2025 (current cycle) has concluded its main rounds; the stray vacancy round registration was open from 27 February to 1 March 2026, with the last date of joining being 12 March 2026. For the next admission cycle (NEET PG 2026), registration and counselling are expected to begin after the NEET PG 2026 results, tentatively around September-October 2026.

Key Points

MS Ophthalmology at MMCARI has 9 seats, providing a good number of opportunities in this specialisation.
The ophthalmology department at MMCARI is supported by K.R. Hospital and Cheluvamba Hospital, providing exposure to a wide range of eye conditions and surgical procedures.
PG residents receive a monthly stipend: Rs. 45,000 (1st year), Rs. 50,000 (2nd year), and Rs. 55,000 (3rd year).
A compulsory rural service bond of Rs. 50,00,000 is applicable; residents must serve 3 years post-completion or pay the penalty.
MS Ophthalmology is moderately competitive; the AIQ General category closing rank at MMCARI was approximately 55,384 (Round 1, NEET PG 2024).
Government institution fees make this one of the most affordable MS Ophthalmology programmes in Karnataka.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Cutoff
FAQs

MMC Mysore Latest Updates and News

13 May, 2026 NEET PG 2026 Exam is scheduled for August 30, 2026. The registrations are expected to begin soon @nbe.edu.in.

MMCARI MS Ophthalmology Fees

MS Ophthalmology at MMCARI is offered under the government quota with highly subsidised fees. The annual tuition fee for clinical courses (including Ophthalmology) is Rs. 1,00,000 per year, totalling Rs. 3,00,000 for the 3-year programme. Additional charges such as university exam fees and other institutional fees are applicable. Hostel facilities are available separately at nominal government-prescribed rates.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Amount (INR)
Tuition Fee (Clinical Category)	Rs. 1,00,000 per year
Total Tuition Fee (3 Years)	Rs. 3,00,000
University Exam Fee (approx.)	Rs. 5,000 per year
Hostel Rent (approx.)	Rs. 12,000 per year
Mess Charges (approx.)	Rs. 4,000 per month
Total Fees (Tuition + University Exam, 3 Years)	Rs. 3,15,000

Hostel fees are not mandatory and are charged separately as per government norms.
Hostel is available for both male and female PG residents.
A refundable hostel deposit of approximately Rs. 5,000 and a mess deposit of approximately Rs. 5,000 are collected at the time of joining.
No EMI options are typically available for government college fees; fees are paid as per the schedule set by the institution.
Fees are subject to revision by the Government of Karnataka and RGUHS.

MMCARI MS Ophthalmology Admission 2026

Admission to MS Ophthalmology at MMCARI is based on NEET PG scores. The process is conducted through two channels: 50% of seats are filled via All India Quota (AIQ) counselling by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), and the remaining 50% through Karnataka state quota counselling by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). The current NEET PG 2025 counselling cycle has concluded its main rounds, with the stray vacancy round recently completed in March 2026. The next admission cycle will be based on NEET PG 2026.

MMCARI MS Ophthalmology Admission Key Dates

Event	Date
NEET PG 2025 Exam	August 3, 2025
NEET PG 2025 Result	August 19, 2025
KEA Karnataka PG Counselling Round 1 Registration	October 4, 2025
KEA Round 1 Choice Filling (Non-Inservice)	November 18, 2025
KEA Round 1 Result	November 29, 2025
KEA Round 2 Choice Filling	December 12, 2025
KEA Round 2 Result	December 24-25, 2025
KEA Round 3 Registration	January 18, 2026
KEA Round 3 Result	February 11, 2026
KEA Stray Vacancy Round Registration	February 27 - March 1, 2026
KEA Stray Vacancy Round Choice Filling	March 4-6, 2026
KEA Stray Vacancy Round Result	March 7, 2026
Last Date of Joining (Stray Vacancy)	March 12, 2026

NEET PG 2026 Exam Dates

Event	Date
NEET PG 2026 Registration Start	April 7, 2026 (Tentative)
NEET PG 2026 Registration End	May 7, 2026 (Tentative)
NEET PG 2026 Admit Card	June 11, 2026 (Tentative)
NEET PG 2026 Exam Date	June 15, 2026 (Tentative)
NEET PG 2026 Result	July 15, 2026 (Tentative)
KEA Karnataka PG Counselling 2026 (Expected)	September - October 2026 (Tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must hold an MBBS degree from an NMC/MCI-recognised institution with a minimum of 50% marks.
Completion of compulsory rotatory internship on or before 31st March of the admission year is mandatory.
Candidates must possess a valid Permanent or Provisional MBBS registration certificate from the Medical Council.

Admission Process:

Qualify NEET PG with the minimum required percentile (50th percentile for General/EWS; 45th for General-PwD; 40th for SC/ST/OBC-PwD).
Register separately for MCC counselling (for AIQ seats) and KEA counselling (for Karnataka state quota seats).
Complete document verification on the KEA portal (cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/pget).
Fill and lock college and course preferences in order of priority before the deadline.
Download seat allotment letter and pay the tuition/seat acceptance fee.
Report to MMCARI with original documents within the stipulated joining window.
Sign the compulsory rural service bond of Rs. 50,00,000 at the time of admission.

MMCARI MS Ophthalmology Scholarships 2026

MS Ophthalmology students at MMCARI, being a government institution, are eligible for several government-funded scholarships and financial support schemes. The most significant financial benefit is the monthly stipend provided to all PG residents. Additionally, SC/ST/OBC candidates may avail post-matric scholarships from the Government of Karnataka and the Government of India.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Financial Support	Amount	Eligibility
PG Resident Monthly Stipend (1st Year)	Rs. 45,000/month	All admitted PG residents
PG Resident Monthly Stipend (2nd Year)	Rs. 50,000/month	All admitted PG residents
PG Resident Monthly Stipend (3rd Year)	Rs. 55,000/month	All admitted PG residents
Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST) - Government of Karnataka	Covers tuition and other fees	SC/ST candidates; apply via Karnataka Scholarship Portal
Post-Matric Scholarship - Government of India (Central Sector)	Variable; covers fees and maintenance	SC/ST/OBC candidates; apply via National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in)
OBC Post-Matric Scholarship	Variable	OBC candidates; apply via National Scholarship Portal

The monthly stipend is the most significant financial support and is available to all PG residents regardless of category.
SC/ST/OBC candidates should apply for post-matric scholarships at the beginning of each academic year through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) or the Karnataka Scholarship Portal.
Scholarship amounts and eligibility criteria are subject to revision by the respective government authorities.
No separate merit-based scholarships are typically offered by MMCARI for PG courses; the stipend serves as the primary financial support.

MMCARI MS Ophthalmology FAQs

Ques. How competitive is MS Ophthalmology at MMCARI, and what NEET PG rank is required?

Ans. MS Ophthalmology at MMCARI is moderately competitive. In the NEET PG 2024 AIQ counselling, the General category closing rank was approximately 55,384 (Round 1). This makes it more accessible than top specialisations like Radiodiagnosis or OBG. Candidates with a mid-range NEET PG rank have a reasonable chance of securing a seat, especially through the Karnataka state quota.

Ques. What surgical procedures are covered during MS Ophthalmology training at MMCARI?

Ans. MS Ophthalmology residents at MMCARI get exposure to a wide range of procedures including phacoemulsification (cataract surgery), trabeculectomy (glaucoma surgery), vitreoretinal surgeries, corneal transplants (keratoplasty), squint correction, oculoplasty procedures, and laser treatments. The high patient load at K.R. Hospital and Cheluvamba Hospital ensures comprehensive surgical training.

Ques. Do MS Ophthalmology residents at MMCARI receive a stipend, and what is the bond obligation?

Ans. Yes, all PG residents receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 45,000 (1st year), Rs. 50,000 (2nd year), and Rs. 55,000 (3rd year). Residents must sign a compulsory rural service bond of Rs. 50,00,000. After completing the MS, they are required to serve in a government/rural setup for 3 years; failing to do so requires payment of the bond penalty.

Ques. What is the career scope after completing MS Ophthalmology from MMCARI?

Ans. MS Ophthalmology graduates can work as ophthalmologists in government hospitals, corporate hospitals, eye hospitals, or set up private eye clinics. The specialisation offers good career prospects with starting salaries in the private sector ranging from Rs. 10-20 lakhs per annum. Graduates may also pursue super-specialisation (DrNB) in vitreoretinal surgery, cornea, glaucoma, or paediatric ophthalmology, or pursue fellowship programmes.

Ques. Can non-Karnataka candidates apply for MS Ophthalmology at MMCARI through state quota?

Ans. No, Karnataka state quota seats are reserved for Karnataka domicile candidates who completed MBBS from a RGUHS-affiliated college in Karnataka. Non-Karnataka candidates can only apply for the 50% All India Quota (AIQ) seats through MCC counselling. Given the moderate competition for AIQ Ophthalmology seats at MMCARI, non-Karnataka candidates with a rank around 55,000-60,000 (General category) may have a chance.

Ques. Is MS Ophthalmology at MMCARI suitable for candidates interested in subspecialty training?

Ans. Yes, MMCARI's ophthalmology department handles a diverse range of cases across all subspecialties including cornea, retina, glaucoma, oculoplasty, and paediatric ophthalmology. The high patient volume at the attached government hospitals ensures that residents get adequate exposure to all subspecialties during their 3-year training, making them well-prepared for further subspecialty training or independent practice.